Jewish New Year Wishes

Traditional Jewish New Year wish says — Leshana tova tekatev v’techatem — May you be blessed with a good year! Jewish New Year wishes center round the belief that the fate of man gets inscribed on the New Year’s Day, and those who repent for their past sins are gifted a happy New Year by God.

Jewish New Year is known as Rosh Hashanah. According to the Gregorian calendar, Rosh Hashanah falls either in September or in October. However, according to traditional Jewish calendar, it is on the month of Tishri. It is one of the most important festivals for the Jewish people and has both religious and social significance. It has been mentioned in the holy Bible also.

Jewish New Year celebrations last for ten days beginning with Rosh Hashanah that includes the first two days of the celebration and ends in Yom Kippur on the tenth day. This period of ten days time is known as Shabbat Shuva.

Jewish New Year celebrations include rigorous prayers, holy baths, recital of Kiddhush, donating to charitable causes. A unique tradition is blowing Shofar that is made by horn of a ram – this signifies repentance for any sin that was committed in the bygone year. And of course, just like most other celebrations, Jewish New Year celebration is incomplete without a festive feast.On New Year Jewish people wish each other good health, prosperity, peace, long-life and happiness.

Jewish New Year Greetings

1. May you leave behind all anger, pain, fear and sadness as the year makes a fresh start.
2. May you bring no tear to any eye nor be caused to shed a tear in this New Year.
3. May you observe your own progress and struggle this New Year to measure how much you are doing, how much you are learning, and how humanely you are living.
4. “As we dip our apples in honey, we pray for an additional measure of sweetness. May we continue to grow in our commitment to faith, our people and community. May all Jews experience blessings in the year ahead, and may the world become a better place for all your children.” Rabbis Bennett Miller and Eric Lankin
5. “May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our ancestors, that you renew for us a good and sweet year.” – Hebraic Berakhah
6. “Resolve to make at least one person happy every day, and then in ten years you may have made three thousand, six hundred and fifty persons happy, or brightened a small town by your contribution to the fund of general enjoyment.” – Sydney Smith
7. “We meet today to thank Thee for the era done, and Thee for the opening one.” – John Greenleaf Whittier
8. The New Year, like an infant heir to the whole world, was waited for, with welcomes, presents, and rejoicings. – Charles Dickens
9. “I will seek elegance rather than luxury; refinement rather than fashion. I will seek to be worthy more than respectable; wealthy and not rich. I will study hard, think quietly, talk gently and act frankly. I will listen to stars and birds, and babes and sages with an open heart. I will bear all things cheerfully, do all things bravely, await occasions and hurry never. In a word I will let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious grow up through the common.” – William Ellery Channing